12 hrs

Report: Waterhead Warriors 6-60 Rochdale Hornets

A packed house at Waterhead Warriors’ home from home saw Rochdale Hornets advance to the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup with a comprehensive 11-try victory.

A home tie against the competition’s most successful team, Wigan Warriors, awaited the winners of Sunday’s game, which was broadcast live on The Sportsman.

And it was the Betfred Championship side who drew first blood as Dan Nixon finished off a passing move in the corner. They were in again moments later thanks to Tom Ashton, who powered through a gap in the Waterhead defence to extend his side’s lead. Max Flanagan added the extras as the Hornets quickly raced into a double-figure lead.

Just before the 15-minute mark, Rochdale were put under pressure for the first time, with the home side forcing the defence back to their own line before being awarded a repeat set. From that set, TJ Boyd was forced to deal with a dangerous grubber kick and Vincent Arthurs did well to pin the winger back and force the drop-out.

The home team’s defence stood strong as they restricted the Hornets to their own half before winning a penalty. And soon, defence turned into attack as Niall Dean managed to plant the ball down amongst a sea of Hornets bodies just before the midway point of the half.

Soon after, Hornets half-back Jamie Dallimore floated a dangerous looking kick to the corner where Nixon was waiting, but he was thwarted as Arthurs put his body on the line to prevent the score.

Pressure from the away side did eventually pay off as Ben Metcalfe sliced through moments later to score.

Straight from the restart, the Hornets were in again thanks to a superb team try.

A quick offload following a break from Boyd found Ethan Wood, who set Flanagan free to leave the scrambling defence behind and finish the job.

Three minutes before the break, Gareth Owen was shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball tackle, and on the stroke of half-time, the Hornets’ lead grew further as Dylan Kelly-Duffy found a gap in the Waterhead defence to add his name to the scoresheet.

The visitors started the second half in the same way they ended the first as Jordan Andrade muscled over from close range.

Dan Lloyd then got in on the act as he cut through, before Ashton crashed through for his second try of the afternoon.

Nixon then produced a typical flying finish to double his tally for the afternoon. Flanagan produced an outstanding kick from the sideline as the gap widened to 40 points.

A ball over the top of the defence from Dallimore found Boyd who touched down in the corner as his side hit the 50 point mark.

Boyd grabbed his second two minutes from time after latching on to the end of another Dallimore kick.

Tickets are already on sale for the Hornets’ clash with Wigan, with the third round tie to be played at the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday 8 February (3pm kick-off).

Waterhead Warriors: Dodd, Arthurs, Robinson, Holland, Hobin, Owen, Fletcher, Barker, Aspin, Cameron, Dixon, Birch, Parnaby. Subs: Kershaw, Fraser, Barbour, Dean.

Tries: Dean

Goals: Dean

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Boyd, Ashton, Sa’u, Nixon, Dallimore, Hickey, Dayes, Whitmore, Kelly-Duffy, Wood, Metcalfe, Syme. Subs: Hatton, Andrade, Lynch, Waterworth.

Tries: Nixon (2), Ashton (2), Metcalfe, Flanagan, Kelly-Duffy, Andrade, Boyd (2), Lloyd

Goals: Flanagan (8)